The racial discrimination and retaliation lawsuit filed by the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) against Matrix LLC., of Philadelphia was finally settled.
The Matrix LLC., one of Philadelphia’s largest cleaning companies, agreed to pay the monetary relief of $450,000 to a class of its 15 former employees. In addition to their monetary fine, the company will also undergo the three year consent decree resolving their court case.
The employment discrimination lawsuit filed by the EEOC against the Matrix LLC, the issue of racial discrimination and retaliation stemmed when a Matrix high-ranking employee allegedly gave an order to one of their supervisors, Barbara Palemi, not to hire any more African-American cleaners. Palemi broke the official’s order and still continued to hire black cleaners amidst orders. Matrix fired her in retaliation for going against the company’s racial discrimination.
Such discrimination qualified under the violation of Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Said provision prohibits discrimination based on race and making it illegal for an employer to retaliate against any employee for going against the company’s instruction to make a hiring decision on a racial basis.
The said cleaning company is restricted from getting involved in any other racial discrimination and retaliation issues. They are also required to conduct trainings for their supervisors and managers about the prohibitions of racial discrimination and retaliation in the workplace. Furthermore, they must also submit a report to the EEOC regarding the discrimination complaints that the company will receive and post a notice of remedial. The consent decree must be duly approved by the US District Court for the District of Pennsylvania.
Same with other companies that have become a subject for litigations, the Matrix immediately cooperated with the EEOC to resolve the discrimination issue arising from their workplace.
Knowing that the EEOC is always there to protect the employees and implement a fair labor act, everyone is guaranteed with a sure sense of security. However, there are some instances that abusive employers seem to be unreasonable enough not to perform righteousness, in this type of situation, you may ask for assistance from a Los Angeles labor attorney to resolve your concern.
Posted by: |